ers from the stair,
carrying his hat and a foot-traveller's knapsack. Martha regards
him with curiosity, tempered now by feminine sympathy with the
defeated._

MARTHA.

Good morning, sir.

MICHAELIS.

_Tonelessly._

Good morning.

MARTHA.

_Pointing at his hat and knapsack._

Hope you ain't off. Don't mind sayin' the way you acted was human
decent, sendin' for Doctor when you found the baby wa'n't dead, an' you
wa'n't no healer any more.

MICHAELIS.

Is it any better?

_Martha makes a disconsolate gesture, implying that there is little
or no hope. Michaelis turns away with bent head. Annie enters from
the kitchen. Michaelis holds out his hand to her, and she takes it
with shy hesitation._

MARTHA.

Guess you'd like to know where Rhody is, wouldn't you? She's where
she's been all night,--out yonder with the sick folks.

MICHAELIS.

What is she doing there?

MARTHA.

Feedin' 'em, first off, an' then heart'nin' of 'em up. That's a purty
hard job, I reckon; but it's the way o' women when they feel like she
does.

_Michaelis sinks in a chair, drawing Annie to him. Mrs. Beeler's
bell rings; Martha goes out by the hall door. Annie watches his
bent head in silence for a moment._

ANNIE.

Are you ever going up again, on the rope?

MICHAELIS.

_Not remembering._

On the rope?

ANNIE.

You know ... the magic rope.--Ain't you ever going to climb up in the
sky again?

MICHAELIS.

_Recollecting._

Never again, Annie. Never again.

ANNIE.

Have you got the rope still?

MICHAELIS.

No, I have lost it.

ANNIE.

Won't you ever find it?

MICHAELIS.

It can only be found by some one who will know how to use it better
than I did.

ANNIE.

How better?

MICHAELIS.

By some one who can climb up, toward the sun and the stars, and yet
never leave the earth, the cities, and the people.

ANNIE.

Then he'll have to take them up with him.

_Michaelis nods for yes._

Gracious!

_She runs to the porch door to meet Rhoda, who appears outside._

Cousin Rhoda! What do you think he says about the magic rope?

RHODA.

What, Annie?

ANNIE.

He says that first thing you know, everything will be going up in the
air, towns and people and everything.

RHODA.

Does he?

ANNIE.

_Runs out into the hall, balancing her arms above her head and
gazing up laughingly._

Dear me! That will be very _tippy_!